Disclaimer: I do not own Sailormoon or Fushigi Yuugi or any of
their characters. Usage is primarily for purposes of entertainment.

Author's Notes: Hello readers.
This is the slightly revised,
2007 version of my 6 year old (probably older) work. There's probably
not much I am going to change about it. Let it be known that my life
has changed dramatically since it's conception and may influence the
fic. Also I'd like to let you know that I do not know everything that
happened in Fushigi Yuugi since I was mostly working when it was
showing. Thus some, or perhaps even most of my details of what's
happening at Mt. Leikaka (Reikaku or whatever its million of
alterations) may be incorrect. I humbly implore that you forgive these
inaccuracies and simply enjoy the story for what it's worth. Also I
have not seen ALL of sailormoon. I've seen most of it. I know mostly
the anime Rei. Same goes for Tasuki. Please don't flame me on basis of
purity or faithfulness to the works of Naoko Takeuchi and Yuu Watase. It's only
fanfiction after all. :-)

"Be careful of what you wish for, you just might get it."

Prologue

A Birthday
Celebration

"Koji-sama, you
sure he's going to like this?" one of the bandits asked the blue-haired
Mt. Reikaku right-hand-man while putting up decorations.

"Of course." Kouji
assured as he put down a big jar of sake on the festivity table. "Once
he sees all this sake, he won't complain about having extravagant
celebrations, ne?"

"Can I taste some of
the sake, huh, Otou-san?" a tiny blue-haired boy with bright eyes
tugged at Koji's pants.

"Ayyiiii, you're only
4 years old, Ryobe-chan." Koji squatted to ruffle his son's hair.
"Maybe when you're old enough...like 6 or 7, okay?" he winked at the
boy who was all starry-eyed at the promise. "Now run along and help
your mother with the food, ne?"

The other bandit shook
his head as Ryobe ran away to help his mother. "Errr...don't you think
it's a little early for Ryobe to go sake-training?"

Koji laughed, "Life is
short, my friend. That's why we must seize all opportunities when they
come along."

"What the &$ is
this all about?" Tasuki demanded as he was being escorted to the main
hall of the bandit stronghold two hours later by Koji and the other
bandit named Fumaru.

"Wait and see..." Koji
winked at this friend. On cue, he and Fumaru kicked the doors open and
revealed a room full of Mt. Reikaku bandits, dressed in their Sunday's
best (if they ever had one ) and surrounding a long table filled with
loads of food and twice as much sake. At the center of the table was
Ryobe, holding the Mt. Reikaku version of a birthday cake topped with
21 candles.

Tasuki shot an
accusing glare at Koji who was twiddling his thumbs and sweatdropping
like hell. "And this is supposed to be..."

"It isn't everyday you
get to celebrate your 21st birthday, ne?" Koji grinned. He prepared
himself for his best friend's onslaught when a small voice piped up
next to them.

"Happy Birthday,
Genrou-sama." Ryobe smiled, holding up the cake with the candles
towards his father's best friend.

Tasuki's expression
softened upon seeing the little boy's face. Koji snickered. His son
knew well enough to save his father's hide. Tasuki had a special
fondness for the little tyke. He took up the boy in his arms and
carried him back to the dinner table where everyone was still singing
the Birthday song to their almighty leader.

"Happy
Birthday...Happy Birthday..."

"Happy Birthday to
you..."

Rei's eyes lit with
excitement as she gandered at the beautifully decorated birthday cake
before her. Baked especially by Mako-chan decorated with white gumpaste
casablancas and lined with ribbons and silver candles. The candles'
lights reflected through her violet eyes...all eighteen of them burning
brightly.

It was her birthday,
and despite all protests, her friends put up a small party for her at
Hikawa Jinja. A small gathering of friends in contrast to the
extravagant debutante's ball her father had wanted for her. He isn't
even here, Rei thought bitterly. But she had learned to ignore her
father's absence during her birthday celebrations. It would only dampen
her somewhat elated mood. And it wouldn't be right to be unhappy when
her friends worked hard to give her such a wonderful party. Makoto had
baked the cake and done most of the cooking with Ami's help (Usagi had
been denied access to the kitchen, thankfully). Minako and Usagi made
up all the decorations. It was simple but pretty, and Rei was happy
beyond words.

"Make a wish..."
Minako reminded her as she closed her eyes and prepared to blow.

Rei thought hard on
what she wanted before making up her mind. Her gaze wandered around the
four elated girls surrounding her. The smiles on their faces was
infectious. If only she could hold on to something like it
longer...she thought. For when they were here, she forgot all her
loneliness, her longing, her emptiness. Life at Hikawa Jinja wasn't
always happy. Fact is, it hardly was. It was the presence of these four
young women who made it so...and when they leave...

Rei smiled inwardly
when she reached a decision. I wish to find a person who would make
me happy...Rei spoke in her inner thoughts. Forever.

"Come on, Gen-chan!
Blow the candles!" one of the bandits called out.

"Yeah, so we can dig
in and grub already!" yelled another.

"Don't forget to make
a wissshhh..." a third one teased.

"Bet ya it'll be for a
lifetime's supply of sake..." joked another.

A smirk appeared on
Genrou's lips. What do I want? he asked himself as he prepared
to blow the candles off. Sure it was no big deal, wishing before
blowing off the candles. It was nothing but a traditional ceremony. But
for some very strange reason, he felt he should make this wish a good
one. His gaze wandered off to Koji who was carrying his four-year-old
kid, shouting with glee.

I wish, he
thought, I wish I could be as happy and content as Koji is...

And with that, he blew
all 21 candles.

A single whiff of air
put out eighteen candles at the same time.

And as the scent of
blown-out candles caught Rei's nostrils, she thought she had smelled a
whiff of sake.

Tasuki inhaled a scent
of flowers...casablancas if he wasn't mistaken. But...where did they
come
from?

Rei's friends clapped
merrily in the background.

A gang of bandits
yelled in unison. "Feeding time!"

"Finally!" Usagi
declared happily, the drool coming from her mouth. "We get to taste the
cake...yuuuum!" she reached out to dip a finger in the red-and-white
delicacy when her hand was halted by a firm grasp.

And all three other
Sailor Senshis sweatdropped as Usagi and Rei wrestled each other trying
to get to the cake.

"And to think we're
already grown women." Makoto sighed.

"Supposedly." laughed
Ami.

Tasuki sighed as he
watched his fellow bandits dig in the food Koji's wife, Mitsuko had
helped prepare. He helped himself as well, taking a little bit of
everything and loading a heckuva lot of sake. He joined in the merry
festivities, but every once in a while, his eyes would wander off to
Koji and his kawaii little boy who was very much a chibi version of
himself. Tasuki would be lying if he said he didn't want to have a
little boy like Ryobe to tag along with him every once in a while,
asking him silly questions and touching everything he wasn't supposed
to. But then, having one would require him to have a wife...a woman to
live with him and give him heirs to the throne of the Mt. Reikaku
stronghold. He felt his skin crawl with the thought. UGH! Why
must a man have a woman to get himself kids? Why can't he just have
them by himself, produce them in a blink of an eye like the wolves with
his ofuda scrolls? Why must one tolerate a bantering, nagging old hag
with him just to make kawaii kids like that? He was suddenly reminded
of his own childhood...

Is that why he felt
empty these past few months? He had been feeling wanton recently, and
he didn't quite understand why. He did, however note, that the feeling
of discontent appeared everytime he took a gander at Koji and Ryobe,
father and son that they are. Watching the facial expressions on Koji
whenever Ryobe aksed what the horses were doing on the stable and if
what the bandits are doing is illegal. Seeing them ride a horse
together and
chase rabbits and fowls about the stronghold. Observing them as the
little boy would stuggle to carry the sack of goods they had stolen and
bring it to headquarters even if he couldn't even budge them.

Shimatta. Tasuki thought. He was getting soft,
and it was Koji's fault. Koji and his sudden surge of fatherhood
hormones was beginning to get to him. Making him feel discontent and
making him feel what he's not usually akin to. All of a sudden he
thinks he's incomplete and unhappy. Tasuki smirked as he remembered his
birthday wish. Perhaps he should've wished for a lifetime of supply of
sake. At least that was more reachable.

Rei sat in the
middle of the small party as her friends (well, Usagi mostly) dove into
the cake, ice cream and every other delicacy was spread on the
decorated table. Her smiled and laughed and enjoyed the celebration
despite knowing it was going to be mere memory soon. A fleeting
sensation of happiness. Nothing is permanent or defined in this world,
she knew that. However, was it so impossible to have something or
someone come into her life that would stay and make all things bright
and beautiful for more than just a limited time? Usagi had her Mamoru.
Ami had her books, and last she heard Ryo was back in town. She
couldn't recall who Makoto was seeing at present (she couldn't keep
track who was an ex and who was her current flame) but whoever he was,
he sure put a permanent smile on her face. Minako was just happy.
Always. Regardless.

Her grandfather
fell seriously ill a few weeks ago. And although he had made an
excellent recovery, that episode had only reminded Rei that he was not
immortal and that his years on this green earth can only last so long.
She cannot be in denial that one day he was going to leave her too. Her
father can be relied on more to be there for his political party than
he ever would be for his own flesh and blood.

Loneliness and
solitude appears to be a mere heartbeat away.

And this is why
she had made that wish with all her heart and all her soul.

But as they
say...

Be careful of
what you wish for...

Be very careful
indeed.

TO BE CONTINUED

This story is
dedicated to the two men in my life...my husband and my son, the two I
had longed and wished for.

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.